The TaiwanICDF Scholarship 2027 round is a master’s and PhD scholarship for students from partner countries, run by the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund with partner universities. Among Taiwan’s government awards it is the closest to a full ride, covering airfare, dormitory housing, tuition, credit fees, insurance, textbooks and a monthly allowance, according to its 2025 guidebook. It is one of the fully funded scholarships in Taiwan, with one caveat: textbook costs need approval by the program director.
This guide is built on that 2025 guidebook, the latest full official one we could verify. TaiwanICDF has not published its 2027 guidebook, so figures and the program list can change. Our guide to all Taiwan scholarships compares this award with the others. Last updated: October 2026.
TaiwanICDF Scholarship 2027 at a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Run by | Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) with partner universities |
| Levels | Master’s and PhD (in the 2025 program list) |
| Programs | 29 in 2025, all taught in English |
| Pays | Airfare, dormitory, tuition, credit fees, insurance, textbooks, monthly allowance |
| Allowance | NT$18,000 (master’s); NT$20,000 (PhD) |
| Application window | December 1 to March 15 (2027 round listed as December 1, 2026 to March 15, 2027) |
| Results | In principle by June 10 |
| Who can apply | Citizens of countries on the official list |
Table of Contents
Use this table to check the basics of the TaiwanICDF Scholarship 2027 before you read the details.
What the TaiwanICDF Scholarship Covers
The 2025 guidebook itemizes the award:
- Airfare: TaiwanICDF arranges the most direct flights to and from Taiwan in economy class.
- Housing: all students must live in the student dormitories.
- Tuition: covered as the student’s university requires.
- Credit fees: covered as the university requires, and they vary with the number of credits you register.
- Insurance: the mandatory student safety insurance plus accident and medical coverage, for the entire program.
- Textbooks: books the instructors require, subject to approval by the director of the student’s institute.
- Allowance: NT$18,000 per month for master’s students and NT$20,000 per month for PhD students, for food and living costs, paid monthly into a local bank account.
The TaiwanICDF Scholarship 2027 programs are designed around partner countries’ development needs, and TaiwanICDF says it wants recipients to contribute to their home country’s national development after graduation.
Eligible Countries
The TaiwanICDF eligible countries list decides who can apply at all. TaiwanICDF accepts only citizens of countries on its official list. This is the 2025 list from the guidebook. Countries marked with * have diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
| Region (as grouped in the guidebook) | Countries |
|---|---|
| Asia Pacific | Fiji, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Marshall Islands*, Myanmar, Palau*, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu*, Vietnam |
| West Asia | Jordan, Mongolia, Russia, Türkiye |
| Africa | Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Eswatini*, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Somaliland, Tanzania, Uganda, Sénégal |
| Caribbean | Haiti*, St. Kitts and Nevis*, St. Lucia*, St. Vincent and the Grenadines* |
| Central America | Belize*, Guatemala*, Mexico |
| South America | Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay*, Peru, Uruguay |
| Europe | Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Serbia |
For StudyTribune readers: Kenya is on the list. Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt and Bangladesh are not on this 2025 list. Some websites claim otherwise, so check the 2027 list on the official TaiwanICDF site before you plan around it.
Two contact exceptions in the guidebook: applicants from Sénégal contact the Taipei Representation Office in Côte d’Ivoire, and applicants from Tanzania contact the Taiwan Representative Office in Somaliland.
Eligibility Rules for the TaiwanICDF Scholarship 2027
For the TaiwanICDF Scholarship 2027, the 2025 guidebook’s rules say you must:
- Be a citizen of a country on the eligibility list, and meet any criteria your own government sets.
- Not be a national of Taiwan or an overseas compatriot student.
- Meet the admission requirements of the partner university program you apply to.
- Be able to meet the Resident Visa (code FS) and Alien Resident Certificate requirements. TaiwanICDF can revoke the award if you cannot.
- Not hold any other Taiwan government-sponsored scholarship, such as the Taiwan Scholarship, in the same academic year.
- Have graduated before the cutoff date if you held a TaiwanICDF, MOFA or MOE scholarship before. For 2025 the cutoff was July 31, 2024. It moves forward each year, so check the 2027 guidebook.
- Provide your highest-level diploma before July 31 of the intake year. If you cannot get it by then, apply for the next year.
- Never have had a scholarship revoked by a Taiwan government agency or been expelled from a Taiwanese university.
TaiwanICDF Programs and Universities (2025 List)
The TaiwanICDF scholarship programs in the 2025 round were 3 PhD programs and 26 master’s programs. The list changes yearly, so use it to see which universities take part, and read each program’s “Application Information” in the current guidebook.
| # | Level | Area | University | Program |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PhD | Agriculture | National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) | PhD Program in Tropical Agriculture |
| 2 | PhD | Public health and medicine | National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) | PhD Program in International Health |
| 3 | PhD | Public health and medicine | Taipei Medical University (TMU) | PhD Program in Global Health and Health Security |
| 4 | Master’s | Agriculture | NPUST | Master Program in Tropical Agriculture |
| 5 | Master’s | Agriculture | National Taiwan Ocean University (NTOU) | International Master Program in Aquaculture Technology and Management |
| 6 | Master’s | Agriculture | National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) | International Master Program in Agriculture (IMPA) |
| 7 | Master’s | Business and management | National Chengchi University (NCCU) | International Master of Business Administration (IMBA) |
| 8 | Master’s | Business and management | National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) | International Master of Business Administration in Technology Management |
| 9 | Master’s | Business and management | National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) | Graduate Institute of International Human Resource Development (IHRD) |
| 10 | Master’s | Business and management | Ming Chuan University (MCU) | MBA Program of International Business and Trade |
| 11 | Master’s | Business and management | National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism (NKUHT) | International Master’s Program of Tourism and Hospitality (IMTH) |
| 12 | Master’s | Public health and medicine | NYCU | Master’s Program in International Health |
| 13 | Master’s | Public health and medicine | TMU | International Master’s Program in Health Care Administration |
| 14 | Master’s | Public health and medicine | TMU | Master Program in School of Pharmacy |
| 15 | Master’s | Engineering and science | NTHU | International Master Program in Information Systems and Applications |
| 16 | Master’s | Engineering and science | NYCU | EECS International Graduate Program (EECS IGP) |
| 17 | Master’s | Engineering and science | National Central University (NCU) | Master of Science Program in Remote Sensing Science and Technology |
| 18 | Master’s | Engineering and science | Kun Shan University (KSU) | International Master Program on Mechatronics Automation Engineering and Management |
| 19 | Master’s | Engineering and science | National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) | International Master’s Program in Electric Power Engineering (IMEPE) |
| 20 | Master’s | Engineering and science | Yuan Ze University (YZU) | International Master’s Program in Industrial Engineering and Management |
| 21 | Master’s | Engineering and science | National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) | International Master Program in Civil Engineering and Management (ICEM) |
| 22 | Master’s | Engineering and science | NCKU | International Master Program on Natural Hazards Mitigation and Management |
| 23 | Master’s | Engineering and science | National Dong Hwa University (NDHU) | International Master Program in Artificial Intelligence and Innovative Applications |
| 24 | Master’s | Education | National Chung Cheng University (CCU) | Master in Educational Leadership and Management Development |
| 25 | Master’s | Education | CCU | E-Learning Master Program of Education and School Leadership |
| 26 | Master’s | Other | NCCU | International Master’s Program in International Studies (College of International Affairs) |
| 27 | Master’s | Other | Taipei National University of the Arts (TNUA) | International MA Program in Studies of Arts and Creative Industries |
| 28 | Master’s | Other | National Taipei University (NTPU) | International Program on Urban Governance (IPUG) |
| 29 | Master’s | Other | MCU | Graduate School of International Affairs (GSIA) |
NYCU is National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, formed by the merger of National Chiao Tung University and National Yang-Ming University.
How to Apply for the TaiwanICDF Scholarship 2027, Step by Step
A TaiwanICDF scholarship application has three parts, and the steps below cover all of them.
- Apply online and meet the university’s requirements. Complete the TaiwanICDF online application system and upload your materials. Also send the separate application the partner university asks for, before that university’s admission deadline.
- Contact the Taiwan embassy or office. Send the documents listed below to the embassy or representative office in your country. Each office decides whether hard copies are needed.
- First review. The embassy or office reviews applicants against TaiwanICDF’s eligibility and selection criteria and sends its recommended list to TaiwanICDF by March 31.
- Second review. An academic committee from the partner university and TaiwanICDF representatives reviews qualified applicants.
- Announcement. TaiwanICDF announces recipients, in principle, no later than June 10. Successful applicants receive an acceptance letter through the embassy or office they applied to.
- Respond and return. Sign the consent form and return it to TaiwanICDF through the embassy or office. That makes you an official recipient.
A successful application has three parts: the online application, the university’s own procedure, and the documents sent to your embassy or office where required. If you cannot send documents, the application is incomplete.
Documents You Need
For the TaiwanICDF Scholarship 2027, expect the same four documents the 2025 guidebook lists for the Taiwan embassy or office:
- A photocopy of your passport or other proof of nationality
- A photocopy of your highest-level diploma and academic transcripts
- A photocopy of your English proficiency certificate (a TOEFL or similar score, or proof you graduated from a program taught fully in English). Applicants whose official national language is English are exempt.
- Referees’ information
Upload everything online, and ask your office whether it also wants hard copies. Incomplete or inaccurate documents mean the application will not be processed.
Timeline
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| December 1, 2026 | 2027 application window listed to open (confirm on the TaiwanICDF site) |
| March 15, 2027 | Online application closes (listed) |
| March 31, 2027 | Embassies and offices send their recommended lists to TaiwanICDF |
| By June 10, 2027 | TaiwanICDF announces recipients, in principle |
| Varies | Partner university admission deadlines |
These dates follow the 2025 pattern for the TaiwanICDF Scholarship 2027. Confirm them on the official site when the 2027 guidebook is published.
Rules to Know Before You Apply
Several rules catch applicants out. For the TaiwanICDF Scholarship 2027, these are the ones to know:
- One program per year. You can apply to only one program at one partner university, and you cannot change it after you submit.
- Redo the application each year. Even if you applied last year, you start the whole procedure again.
- No extension and no deferral. Extra study time is at your own expense, and you cannot defer the award.
- No program change after acceptance. Switching to another program cancels the scholarship.
- No application charge from TaiwanICDF. Universities and programs may have their own fees.
- No age limit. TaiwanICDF says it evaluates applicants comprehensively.
- Part-time work is allowed within Taiwan’s employment law.
- You must be a new student. If you are already studying in another program abroad, the scholarship is only for students in TaiwanICDF partner programs.
Tips to Strengthen Your Application
- Pick a program that fits a development need in your country. Your TaiwanICDF Scholarship 2027 file is judged on it. TaiwanICDF built these programs around partner countries’ needs, so write your study plan around one.
- Read the program’s Application Information in the guidebook. Each university sets its own documents and deadline.
- Start your TaiwanICDF Scholarship 2027 file in autumn. Documents from your university take weeks.
- Order your diploma early. The highest-level diploma must be ready before July 31 of the intake year.
- Prepare recommendation letters before December. See our guide to a recommendation letter for a scholarship, with sample, example, template and format.
- Ask your embassy or office about hard copies before the window closes.
- Use the contact email icdfscholarship@icdf.org.tw if the online system gives you trouble.
TaiwanICDF or the MOE Taiwan Scholarship?
| TaiwanICDF | MOE Taiwan Scholarship | |
|---|---|---|
| Levels | Master’s and PhD (2025 list) | Bachelor’s, master’s, PhD |
| Covers | Airfare, housing, tuition, credit fees, insurance, textbooks, allowance | Tuition up to NT$40,000 per semester plus a stipend |
| Window | Dec 1 to Mar 15 | Feb 1 to Mar 31 |
| Countries | Official TaiwanICDF list | Countries MOE designates |
If your country is on the TaiwanICDF list and your field is on the program list, the TaiwanICDF Scholarship 2027 covers more. If not, read our MOE Taiwan Scholarship 2027 guide. You cannot hold both in the same academic year.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the TaiwanICDF Scholarship 2027 open?
The TaiwanICDF Scholarship 2027 round is listed for December 1, 2026 to March 15, 2027. That matches the 2025 window of December 1, 2024 to March 15, 2025 in the official guidebook. TaiwanICDF has not published its 2027 guidebook yet, so confirm the dates on its site.
What does the TaiwanICDF scholarship cover?
Per the 2025 guidebook it covers round-trip economy airfare, dormitory housing, tuition, credit fees, insurance for the whole program, textbook costs subject to approval by the institute director, and a monthly allowance. All students must live in the student dormitories.
How much is the monthly allowance?
The 2025 guidebook lists NT$18,000 per month for master’s students and NT$20,000 per month for PhD students. It is paid monthly into a local bank account.
Which countries can apply for the TaiwanICDF Scholarship 2027?
Only citizens of countries on the official list. Kenya is on the 2025 list, along with Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa and others. Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt and Bangladesh are not on the 2025 list. The list can change, so check the 2027 version before you apply.
Can I apply for more than one TaiwanICDF program?
No. You can apply for only one program at one partner university each year, and you cannot change it after you submit. After acceptance, changing to another program cancels the scholarship.
Do I need IELTS or TOEFL for the TaiwanICDF scholarship?
TaiwanICDF says it has no English test requirement of its own, but your university program may set one. Its guidebook also lists an English proficiency certificate among the documents sent to the Taiwan embassy or office, with exemptions for applicants whose official national language is English.
Does university admission mean I won the scholarship?
No. Admission to a university does not mean you have the TaiwanICDF scholarship. Only applicants who receive an acceptance letter issued by TaiwanICDF are recipients.
Can I work part-time on the TaiwanICDF scholarship?
Yes. The TaiwanICDF FAQ says you may have a part-time job within the scope of Taiwan’s employment law. Check the current rules for your visa before you accept work.
Can I extend or defer the scholarship?
No to both. You cannot extend the award period, and any extra study time is at your own expense. Deferring the award is also not allowed.
Can I apply again if I am not selected, and is there an age limit or fee?
Unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to reapply, but you must complete the whole application again. There is no age limit. The TaiwanICDF online application has no charge, though each university and program may have its own fees.
Can I hold another Taiwan government scholarship with TaiwanICDF?
No. The guidebook bars recipients from holding another Taiwan government-sponsored scholarship, such as the Taiwan Scholarship, in the same academic year. Previous holders of a TaiwanICDF, MOFA or MOE scholarship must have graduated before a cutoff date. It was July 31, 2024 for the 2025 round.
Final Word on the TaiwanICDF Scholarship 2027
The TaiwanICDF Scholarship 2027 round offers one of the most complete awards among Taiwan scholarships, but only for citizens of listed countries and only for one program per year. Check your country on the current list first, choose a program, and prepare your diploma, transcripts and referees before December 1. Then confirm the 2027 dates on the official site. For the other routes, see our Taiwan scholarships guide.